Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[Sundaymorningguy]

Apparently, the Czech player in question played a warm-up tournament in Melbourne, so what is going on in Australia.

 

[Moxie]

I’m not really sure what Djokovic’s endgame is here. I mean the obvious play the Australian Open and break the tie, but there will be a heavy cost to pay which I’m just not sure is worth it. If I were his fellow ATP players, I would be extra motivated to send him home without another slam trophy for the rest of his career.

I agree that this could make him extra unpopular in the locker room, but I don't think he ever imagined it would. First, because he thinks he's right on this issue, and he believes it's his choice. Secondly, he thinks he's a good guy, and people should just like him. I don't think he in any way anticipated this negative reaction.

 

[Federberg]

So many folks are finding hilarity in all of this. Here's a popular one...

"We are mystified that people are so angry about Djokovic being an anti-vaxer. His first name is No Vac

Now that's a Djok "

 

[Carol]

This is the "horrible" hotel where Novak stays....

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Australia has cancelled the visa of Czech player Renata Voracova,who used the same medical exemption as Novak Djokovic,has been told to leave the country., Renata was in the same hotel as Novak,she is not appealing.There is a third person who also used the exemption,an official,still being pursued.

 

[the AntiPusher]

This is the "horrible" hotel where Novak stays....

This dude Always this Dude

 

[kskate2]

Australia has cancelled the visa of Czech player Renata Voracova,who used the same medical exemption as Novak Djokovic,has been told to leave the country.There is a third person who also used the exemption,an official,still being pursued.

Apparently she doesn't have an army of lawyers on her side to grant her a reprieve to a higher court. Things that make you go Hmm.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I agree that this could make him extra unpopular in the locker room, but I don't think he ever imagined it would. First, because he thinks he's right on this issue, and he believes it's his choice. Secondly, he thinks he's a good guy, and people should just like him. I don't think he in any way anticipated this negative reaction.

I don’t know if I agree there. I can’t imagine many even fellow players at this point in the pandemic having a positive reaction to his stance. I think he knows that too. I think given his overall position since the start of the pandemic and what has transpired since that he couldn’t have anticipated a positive reaction. If you consider his tennis debacles of 2020 with his tournament and DQ at the US Open 2020, his vaccination stance, his words about mental health at the Tokyo Olympics and a few more moments overall, I think many are ok (and I include his fellow players in this) with watching Djokovic be his own PR poison.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Apparently she doesn't have an army of lawyers on her side to grant her a reprieve to a higher court. Things that make you go Hmm.

Of course...money talks Kskate,Novak can afford to take his case to the court,I wonder who will end up paying the court costs?

 

[tennisville]

Of course...money talks Kskate,Novak can afford to take his case to the court,I wonder who will end up paying the court costs?

But she played a warm-up tournament in Melbourne? How did she clear border control

 

[tennisville]

This is a huge political mess up which could have been avoided if the "exemption" was never given.

It should have been a simple question related to whether a person is vaccinated or not. Novak Djokovic should never have been given an exemption and should not have been allowed to board the plane

But the Australian government is also to blame. How did they give him a visa in the first place and allow him to board a plane? Also why did they allow 2 others with the same visa entry to Australia, that latter indicates this was a political setup. We will know on Monday

I also am sad that the others in that hotel are in such poor situations. I saw 1 person had been locked up for 9 years, is that how we treat our fellow human beings. I think their stories should be covered and I hope Djokovic helps them out after he leaves

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

But she played a warm-up tournament in Melbourne? How did she clear border control

Yes she did play a warm up tournament in Melbourne....I have no idea how she cleared border control,an error on their part I guess,Karen Andrews our Home Affairs Minister said Border Force officials are still investigating.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is a huge political mess up which could have been avoided if the "exemption" was never given.

It should have been a simple question related to whether a person is vaccinated or not. Novak Djokovic should never have been given an exemption and should not have been allowed to board the plane

But the Australian government is also to blame. How did they give him a visa in the first place and allow him to board a plane? Also why did they allow 2 others with the same visa entry to Australia, that latter indicates this was a political setup. We will know on Monday

I also am sad that the others in that hotel are in such poor situations. I saw 1 person had been locked up for 9 years, is that how we treat our fellow human beings. I think their stories should be covered and I hope Djokovic helps them out after he leaves

No.....The Federal Health Minister,Greg Hunt, wrote to Craig Tiley in last November outlining the conditions of overseas players coming into Australia....eg having COVID 19 in the last six months,is not grounds for medical exemption",which Novak tried to use.
I agree with you Novak should have never been given an exemption in the first place.When a visa is issued you then have to have the correct paper work intact to back the visa,which Novak did not have at Customs in Melbourne.There are 2 separate issues here.Also he applied for the incorrect visa in the first place,he had a 'working visa'.

 

[10isfan]

I’m reading there were five others who got an exemption. Perhaps an incorrect rumor? Part of the blame lies with the government body who wrote the rules. There should be no mention about previous infection. That’s what caused people to think they can get through. Only two should have been listed: serious adverse reaction to the vaccine and recent major surgery. Many are looking incompetent at their jobs because of this fiasco.

 

[Moxie]

This is the "horrible" hotel where Novak stays....

TBH, I don't think it would be terrible if he were allowed to wait with his team. It's not like he's going to sneak away and blend in with the population. He's only there to play the Australian Open, and they'd notice if he did.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

TBH, I don't think it would be terrible if he were allowed to wait with his team. It's not like he's going to sneak away and blend in with the population. He's only there to play the Australian Open, and they'd notice if he did.

Hey his visa has been cancelled he is lucky he is still in the country....honestly.Can't have one rule for him and another rule for a person who cannot afford to take the case to court.
Next you will be saying Free Poor Novak!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I’m reading there were five others who got an exemption. Perhaps an incorrect rumor? Part of the blame lies with the government body who wrote the rules. There should be no mention about previous infection. That’s what caused people to think they can get through. Only two should have been listed: serious adverse reaction to the vaccine and recent major surgery. Many are looking incompetent at their jobs because of this fiasco.

Rumors.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

If you are the other slams, take note and make sure you and your governments are all on the same page to avoid all of this.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If you are the other slams, take note and make sure you and your governments are all on the same page to avoid all of this.

From what I read today,French Open will allow non-vaccinated players into the tournament.

 

[Kieran]

I’m reading there were five others who got an exemption. Perhaps an incorrect rumor? Part of the blame lies with the government body who wrote the rules. There should be no mention about previous infection. That’s what caused people to think they can get through. Only two should have been listed: serious adverse reaction to the vaccine and recent major surgery. Many are looking incompetent at their jobs because of this fiasco.

It’s been reported in several newspapers that “only a handful of players” were granted exemptions, out of 26 applications. This quote is from Tiley.

So far, only Novak and the Czech girl have surfaced in the news, along with somebody else who isn’t a player. This story will rumble on…